Tigers in EST: Matt Mansilla

Photo courtesy of CofCSports.com

Matt Mansilla joined the Tigers organization after being selected in the 22nd round of the 2009 MLB draft. He showed good tools including speed and power while playing for the College of Charleston, but struggled during his first taste of professional baseball last summer.

After signing a pro contract, Mansilla was assigned to the Oneonta Tigers of the New York-Penn League. He showed good arm strength, racking up four assists in 41 games in left field for the O-Tigers, but his offensive production was miserable. In 120 at bats, Mansilla hit .175 and slugged .267.

On the bright side, Mansilla showed good patience, drawing a walk in 10.4 percent of his plate appearances. Additionally, he seems to have been a victim of bad luck. His batting average on balls in play was .224, which is much lower than one would expect from a player like Mansilla who has above-average speed.

Mansilla will likely be assigned to Connecticut in June, where he will look to put 2009 behind him. With a little luck, Mansilla should post significantly better numbers his second time around the New York-Penn League.